March 24, 2009

NFL rules changes could affect Chicago Bears return game

Danieal Manning and Devin Hester might have a lot more work to do on kickoff returns now.

News continues to trickle out of the NFL owners meetings, and the latest involves several changes aimed at improving safety. The owners passed a measure that would essentially eliminate the wedge on kickoff returns after the competition committee determined that too many injuries were occurring. Any more than two players acting as wedge-setters will draw a 15-yard penalty at the spot of the wedge.

Late last season, the Bears used a four-man wedge of Israel Idonije, Kellen Davis, Jason McKie, and Anthony Adams to spring Manning for a 50-yard gain at St. Louis. The Bears typically used a three-man wedge. Now both are illegal.

“Some teams run a zone-wedge scheme and some teams run a man scheme, and we’re a man scheme,” Toub said. “We don’t hold hands or anything like that to form a wedge.

“In a zone scheme, you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with a guy sometimes holding hands or linking arms, and you’ll block whoever’s in your path. We really don’t form a tight wedge like some teams do, so it shouldn’t really affect us.”

Manning led the NFL in kickoff-return average last season, averaging 29.7 yards per return. Hester has four career kickoff returns for touchdowns and one in Super Bowl XLI. His increased role at receiver allowed Manning to step in as the primary kick returner.

The NFL also will stop the bunching of players on onside kicks, protect blockers from a helmet-to-helmet hit from the blindside and protect receivers from defenseless forearm or shoulder hits to the head.

I guess the game is starting to go really soft! Like Ditka said its a tough game of hitting, So I guess we'll just have to start watching hockey! Man for all the money these guys are paid to hit hard what are they going to do? Leave it to people who sit in there little sky boxes to make the rules and it really stinks

Bearsnut, it's funny that you mention how much the players get paid. That's one of the reasons for these protection rules getting put into the game. The players get paid a lot of money, the owners are trying to protect their investments.

Maybe the next rule change will be to have the players wear skirts and sashes, since this is slowly turning into the Girl Scout powderpuff league. Actually, that might be selling powderpuff games short....

From now on, we'll just have laser football, where if you look at the ballcarrier with your laser goggles, he's assumed to be down. Except, of course, if his last name is Manning or Roethlisberger, in which case the QB is not allowed to be tackled ever, and the play is never over until he's thrown the ball. But don't make any contact with him just as he throws it, or you'll get 15 for roughing.